Shloka 55

Samrāt-Lakṣaṇa and the Counsel to Check Jarāsandha (सम्राट्-लक्षणं जरासन्ध-प्रतिबाधा-परामर्शः)

Devanagari script

योजनान्ते शतद्वारं वीरविक्रमतोरणम्‌ | अष्टादशावरै्नद्ध क्षत्रियैर्युद्धदुर्मदै:

Transliteration

yojanānte śatadvāraṁ vīravikramatoraṇam | aṣṭādaśāvarair naddhaṁ kṣatriyair yuddhadurmadāḥ ||

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa dit : «À l’extrémité de chaque yojana se dresse une place forte aux cent portes, dont le porche est façonné de la vaillance et de la prouesse mêmes des héros. Elle est gardée par dix-huit kṣatriyas Yādava, ivres de l’ardeur du combat.»

Word by Word

• योजनान्ते: at the end of a yojana (distance-interval)
• योजनान्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजनान्त
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शतद्वारम्: having a hundred gates
• शतद्वारम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतद्वार
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वीरविक्रमतोरणम्: whose arch/gateway is (made of) heroes' prowess
• वीरविक्रमतोरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरविक्रमतोरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अष्टादश: by eighteen
• अष्टादश: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अवरैः: excellent/choice (lit. 'not inferior')
• अवरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विनद्धम्: bound/secured/fortified
• विनद्धम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नह्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• क्षत्रियैः: by Kshatriyas (warriors)
• क्षत्रियैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• युद्धदुर्मदैः: maddened by battle (battle-frenzied)
• युद्धदुर्मदैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्धदुर्मद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Yādava kṣatriyas (eighteen guards/protectors)
• Fort/stronghold (durga implied)
• Hundred gates (śatadvāra)
• Gateway/arch (toraṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates disciplined martial readiness as a facet of kṣatriya-dharma: a realm’s true ‘gate’ is not merely masonry but the courage, training, and coordinated protection provided by capable warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa is describing a heavily secured stronghold: at each yojana-interval there are many gates, and the fortification is effectively maintained by eighteen battle-fervent Yādava kṣatriyas, emphasizing both physical defenses and human valor.